The OSLT (also commonly referred to as “the Loop”) is passionately involved in their community, often attending local festivals and events to promote the byway. The Ormond Beach Riverfest Seafood Festival, which occurred over the weekend of November 15h and 16th, was the perfect event to host an OSLT-themed booth to promote the byway among the local community. The two-day event is held annually at one of the Loop’s main attractions, Rockefeller Gardens and Fortunato Park, near The Casements. The Casements, a 9,000-square-foot historic home, was once the winter home of John D. Rockefeller.
The Casements, the former winter residence of American oil magnate John D. Rockefeller. It is currently owned by the city of Ormond Beach and used as a cultural center and park. It is located on a barrier island within city limits, overlooking the Halifax River, which is now part of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway.
Connecting with the Community
It was an excellent opportunity to get the word out about the OSLT and all the projects the byway organization is involved in. The display table included photos of the byway’s main attractions, byway maps, and various brochures with information about local fauna and wildlife. They used their rack card, with it’s simple map to guide people on what “the Loop” has to offer, and had a sign-up sheet for their monthly OSLT Newsletter and new volunteers.
Melissa Burns, Nancy Galdo, Laura Ureta, Jody Gibian-Miles, Ron Fell, Jr., Melody Lopez staffing the OSLT booth early on Saturday morning.
Spotlight on 2026 Initiatives
Dorothy Davis, Marianne Burley, and Maureen Pearson at the OSLT booth at the Ormond Beach Riverfest Seafood Festival on Sunday morning.
OSLT showcased the power of partnership and teamwork with meaningful initiatives that continue to benefit the entire byway region:
- ReGrow the Loop (RGL) is an educational initiative launched by Volusia County in 2024, continued by the OSLT in 2025, and entering its third year in 2026. RGL includes programs and walks teaching the value of planting native plants, eliminating invasive plants, the ‘right plant, right place’ principle, attracting more wildlife and pollinators, and protecting our environment, all specific to the various habitats surrounding and adjacent to our National Scenic Byway.OSLT has excellent partners participating with them in next year’s ReGrow the Loop 2026, including Volusia County, the City of Ormond Beach, Indian River Lagoon Council, Pawpaw Florida Native Plant Society, Halifax River Audubon, Dream Green Volusia, Tomoka Basin State Park, Natural Beauty Native Florida Landscapes, and Action Tree Care. There will be 16 programs and events from January 31 through May, and the calendar will be officially announced in December 2025. Volusia County has expanded its initial ReGrow program into a countywide initiative, ReGrow Volusia, which OSLT’s local ReGrow the Loop will participate in next year.
- Focused Effort in 2026 to remove the Brazilian Pepper tree, a scourge escalating through portions of the “Loop”. Our goal is to work with the county, the city, and environmental organizations to remove as many Brazilian Pepper trees as possible and plant native trees in their place.
Fun for All Ages
The Kids’ Zone was a hit! Children enjoyed ring toss, coloring stations, and the ever-popular fishing pond—simple, affordable activities that sparked joy and curiosity about nature.
Ring Toss, Fishing Pond, Coloring Desk, and OSLT Word Search games were played by kids and adults alike!
OSLT had a significant presence. It was an excellent opportunity to spread the word about this unique byway. Laura Ureta (in front of the booth), Jasmarie Cooper, and Marianne Burley with Dorothy Davis in the Kids’ Zone
The Fishing Pond was unbelievably popular! Children would stay for a long time and come back later for more.
Join the Journey
A heartfelt thank-you to our incredible volunteers who made this event possible: Laura Ureta, Jody Gibian-Miles, Jasmarie Cooper, Melody Lopez, Nancy Galdo, Ron Fell Jr., Melissa Burns, Janet Bernardini, Marianne Burley, Dorothy Davis, Eamon Oktar, and Bryce Merritt.
The Ormond Scenic Loop & Trail is more than a road—it’s an experience. Stay connected, learn about upcoming events, and become part of our conservation efforts by subscribing to our newsletter at http://ormondscenicloopandtrail.com.
